Unfinished Christmas Gift

I decided quite late that I wanted to stitch Harmony from the Nora Corbett line for the Crone and *Gasp* did not finish it! Well, since the cat is out of the bag I thought I would post a progress pic.

Happy New Year!

The Maiden

IHSW: A tree grows

My most productive Hermit and stitch in months (which is not saying much for I have been in a stitching funk)! I was able to add 5 letters to my name tree, a gift for my father for Christmas. Three more letters to go then it is off to the framers (luckily Sarah Lamp is giving me some leeway with frame time, gotta love her!).  The Maiden

Belle

 Yep, Another Start! I could not resist Ella the frog Princess from Mirabilia and I am hoping she will remind me I need to kiss a lot of frogs!

Here is my modest start, just the bodice and the chest (there was a error on the chart for the face, so she will be headless for a while!) The first time I saw her (around 10pm on the 15th) I thought, Belle from Beauty and the Beast!

Oddly enough I had planned on going as Belle for Halloween! Here I am with Snow White and Alice, Hipster Disney Princesses!

The Maiden

Exciting Blog Find!

I just found a new blog, "The Girl that Stitches" and I am so jealous of her work! She is stitching Umbrella Sky by HAED, and it is absolutely stunning (not to mention very far along)! Pop over for a look, you will not be disappointed. Happy Halloween! The Maiden.

IHSW- 3 for Tea

Sigh, I feel like it's one for tea! My stitching mojo has left the building and not even IHSW could make me rally! I did manage a little more of the green dress however.

I have been so distracted lately, I even forgot about the Fall stitcher's retreat in Las Vegas! It's a shame, I look forward to it all year! The Maiden

Such a slacker!

I started Persephone back in June.  This is all I have to show for progress, but I have to say, I am loving this PTP "pickled".
~ Mother

Insert Retching Sound...

 I have been able to stitch on the weekends, so here is my painfully slow progress on Mirabilia's Sleeping Beauty.

 stitcher's hair ball!

The Maiden (and Lane)

Thunder and Threads

Today the storm continues, which is fine by me for it is the only time I like my new Jeep which I have dubbed "water bug." Joann's is once again having a sale on DMC (whoo hoo!) so I kitted up a new mermaid pattern...

I love the pin up quality, very Merabilly! 

 Floss toss, the colors are much richer in person...

 Lastly, an update on my name tree. you can see the "MARK," but the iridescent fabric is completely lost. I did solve the problem of the dye not being set, no more green fingers!

The Maiden  

Stitching in the Rain

Well, more like Stashing in the Rain!

The owners of our LNS returned from Market last night and here is what I picked up:

 I also started one of the name Christmas Trees, but was mortified when my fingers turned green from the silk I was using. A friend in my Thursday night stitching circle suggested I soak the silk in white vinegar to set the dye.

Lane the investigator!

Hopefully this will solve my problem. The Maiden

DMC Sale!

What is a girl to do who cannot stitch? STASH of course!

Joann's had DMC on sale for 0.27 cents a skein, so I kitted up several of my patterns: Mirabilia's Elizabeth, Garden of Eerie, Witch's Pie, and Skeleton Crew. I was tempted to kit a HAED, but with my mysterious neck injury keeping me from stitching I thought better of it.

I also picked up this cute basket for half off! Lane of course immediately investigated.
The Maiden

Company for the Crone

I had lost my mojo for this project, then I picked it up 24 hours ago and BAM, I was able to add the "mother!" The hair conversion is trickier than I anticipated (8 DMCs) so I am moving on for now and will return to it later, I cannot wait to get to those pinks!

The Maiden

IHSW Three for me!

What? A new start! Not me? Of course! While visiting the Crone in her new home (and unpacking her massive, drool worthy stash) we kitted up the materials for Three for Tea by Mirabilia. I am in the process of converting the hair from blonde to blackish grey and having left off the pony I have treasures planned for the space where there is missing skin.

The project was perfect for maiden mother crone, we three stitcher's, so it must be done! The Maiden.  

Voyage

 

"I am alive and have begun a new voyage!"  The Crone

 

Here is a progress picture of Waiting for Ships by Nora Corbett, uploaded by the Maiden for the Crone who is without Internet at the moment. We three are truly separated now, each one scattered to another city. Traveling across many miles of unknown desert I arrived at the Crone's new home with only one mission in mind: unpack her cross stitch. Three days later and many late night hours spent stash diving, she has picked up a needle again! The Maiden. 

Treat? Yes Please!

After months of no sugar (my restricted diet to discourage bacterial growth) I have found a way to "Have a Treat!"

By cherryWood Design Studios, stitched on 32ct Crystal Flapper. This fabric was originally for Silver Moon Tea, but it was a nightmare to work on! The weave was too tight and uneven, I actually had to frog! 

The buttons are the reason I wanted to have this project (I even made the crone buy a set!). The backstitching was arduous, but I love the webbed table!

My lovely assistant Lane, who cannot resist my project bags!

Course 5 of antibiotics will be done in a few days, wish me luck!

The Maiden

Meet Lady Grey!

After a 3 week sabbatical from stitching (I have been ill, and unfortunately in too much pain to stitch) I have finally finished Silver Moon Tea by Mirabilia!

 Stitched on 32ct Belfast Silvery Moon, naturally. I substituted the white in the steam for 032 kreinik and changed "Earl Grey" to "Lady Grey".

 When I bought the beads I thought, this can't be right!? In the end I loved the combination, and even got to use my favorite beads (the green ones in the moon)

 I had to backstitch the face twice, I found the 2 strands looked too thick. In order to achieve a more dainty nose Juls (my SAL partner on SM tea) suggested I back stitch using one strand going over the length twice. Not only did the strands lay nicer, I had more control and could chose to use 1 or 2 strands in certain areas.

The Maiden

On to Beading!

 

 

 

Can anyone spot the pattern change?

The Maiden



Confetti City!!!

I was close enough to finishing page 1 that I thought I should post.  Holy Cow, talk about confetti,  little did I know what I was getting myself into.  Page 1 = 8000 stitches = 59 color changes (yes, I counted).  But SOOOO worth it.  Moving on to page 2!

Silver Moon Tea IHSW

 After my last finish, I needed a mindless stitch! I picked up Silver Moon Tea from my stash and before I knew it the moon was done!

Here is my progress after the weekend, I hope to be beading soon! Progress on this last section has been slow, there is symbol confusion (watch out for the arrows and triangles).The Maiden

Mirabilia's Siren and the Shipwreck completed!

 The fabric was my inspiration for the pattern change, 32ct Crystal Murky is what I have used for Zombie patterns in the past. As the first stitches went into the fabric my mind wandered to a time in the distant future where mermaids swim through the ruins of once great cities collecting skulls of the unfortunate race that did not survive the Zombie Apocalypse.

 I loved the treasures in her hair!

 The waterlilies in this project created a watercolor effect that I adore!

 Ahh... my skull net! What trouble you gave me! I finished the rest of the project 3 weeks ago, but have not stitched since then.

 Net tutorial: You will need an egg carton, Sashay yarn, and Stiffen Stuff.

Expand the yarn (I liked the overdyed brown and blue for more color options) and place over egg carton. Spray with Stiffen Stuff (for fabric) and let dry 20 minutes. Repeat twice more. Once dry, I threaded the net into Bezels, frames, and filigree beads (available at Michael's) and couched stitched the "waves" onto my fabric using the molded yarn as a guide. The yarn will be stiff, but still pliable. I tried Modge Podge as well, but it smelled and was far to stiff to manipulate.

 

Add your favorite skull beads (this was troublesome and I had to consult the Mother who stopped me from reaching for the super glue! I had to thread the bead onto the fabric then secure to the net for stability). The chandelier seemed odd to me in a sea setting. I wonder what it says about me when a skull net feels more organic!

The Maiden

My First HAED. Justice by Michele Sayetta Artwork by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

I have to admit I was a little nervous about jumping into a HAED, but I love it.  I have the stichy bug back and have been cruising along.  I am halfway through my first page (not bad for 5 nights work) right around 3,400 stitches.  Sorry you have to cock your head to the right to get the correct angle ;)

 

 

Stitched on 25 count Lugana - white.

Siren's last stitch

I have finished the stitching on the Siren and the Shipwreck!

 

Let the beading begin...

The Maiden

Endless Tale

Siren's tail goes on and on! 



Siren's Inspiration

 

My Progress on Siren has been hindered by a back injury I sustained last week (I had hoped to be further along), but I am none the less excited to be moving on to the last part of her tail!

This is Darwin, a Betta I kept in my office until very recently when he found a new home with Kristle. He is my inspiration for this mermaid, the coloration is an exact match! I have recently become a betta hoarder, I have 4 between my home and office, so I decided to embrace the madness and create a blog with my co-workers (who also have bettas at work!), it can be found here: www.bettahoarders.blogspot.com

Close up of the tail. The Maiden

March IHSW SS Mermaid

 Here is my starting point for IHSW...

 A close up of all those lovely colors...

 

 And here is my progress! I am really pleased with this project so far and cannot wait until her tail is done! I have decided not to stitch the chandelier and have a surprise planned for that space, so stayed tunned! the Maiden